Two new project management programs to debut this fall

Aug. 31, 1999

KALAMAZOO -- Two new noncredit programs in project management
will be available this fall through Western Michigan University's
Haworth College of Business. One will be offered exclusively in
Grand Rapids, Mich. The other will run in both Grand Rapids and
Kalamazoo.

WMU will offer a seven-day, in-depth program leading to a Project
Management Certificate starting Sept. 21 at its Grand Rapids Regional
Center, 2333 East Beltline SE. It also will host a six-part live
videoconference called "Hot Topics, Tools and Techniques
in Project Management" starting Oct. 21 at the regional center
in Grand Rapids and on the main campus in Kalamazoo.

Both new programs are being offered in cooperation with the
International Institute for Learning, a provider of project management
training to colleges, universities and businesses throughout the
United States.

James McFaul, who oversees noncredit training programs for
the Haworth College of Business, says acquiring project management
skills is increasingly important in today's rapidly changing and
highly competitive marketplace.

"Employers are requiring more and more of their project
managers, engineers and team members," McFaul says, "especially
when it comes to managing multiple projects in a variety of areas,
controlling and decreasing costs, and increasing productivity.
Our new noncredit programs will raise participants' level of competence
to manage projects, which will benefit both employers and their
clients and customers."

Those enrolling in the certificate program will attend classes
at the Grand Rapids Regional Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept.
21 and 22, Oct. 21 and 22, and Nov. 17, 18 and 19. The program
costs $2,695 and includes materials, lunch and refreshments. It
is designed for project managers, team members, project engineers,
project leaders, operation managers and others involved directly
or indirectly with projects for nearly every industry.

The program on "Hot Topics, Tools and Techniques in Project
Management" will be a live videoconference broadcast to universities
and colleges across the country from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 21
and 28, Nov. 4 and 18, and Dec. 2 and 9. Downlink sites are the
Grand Rapids Regional Center and Schneider Hall on the main campus
in Kalamazoo.

The program costs $500 per person for all six sessions in the
series. Participants must pay the full series fee; they may not
pay on an individual-session basis.

The series will squarely address troublesome problems that
can derail project management efforts. It is designed to help
managers increase profits, control and decrease costs, improve
teamwork, decrease work and stress, manage risk, increase efficiency,
and eliminate bottlenecks.

McFaul notes that the Haworth College of Business offers traditional
project management courses and seminars but says the two new offerings
add new dimensions to such training.

"The Certificate Program is an advanced project management
program and incorporates various processes across the project
life cycle phases," he said. "The video downlink provides
a short-term learning experience covering current topics that
allows participants to gain valuable insight as they interact
with peers and the session trainers."

For registration information or more information, call McFaul
in the Haworth College of Business at (616) 387-6608.